work-around

noun

ˈwərk-ə-ˌrau̇nd How to pronounce work-around (audio)
: a plan or method to circumvent a problem (as in computer software) without eliminating it

Examples of work-around in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Slow campaign launches, costly work-arounds and difficulty supporting expansion can affect the budget and timing required to pursue growth. — James Fratzke, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 By late September, those work-arounds had restored about half of the oil that normally passes through the strait, helping keep crude prices around $100 a barrel instead of the much higher levels many analysts had feared. — Brian C. Black, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 With Musk unwilling to sit for an interview, Gibney and his team came up with a work-around. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 There's no cell signal and no real Wi-Fi to speak of—though guests can request a work-around if truly desperate. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for work-around

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of work-around was in 1961

Rhymes for work-around

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Browse Nearby Words

work a room
work-around
work around to
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Cite this Entry

“Work-around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work-around. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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